My Defender 90 Puma will not start!

My 2007 Defender 90 Puma model owned from new has recently been difficult to start despite new battery and new glow plugs. Always needed plenty of cranking but never failed to start until today. Charged battery, new battery in key fob but although dash lights up with key absolutely nothing when key is turned
Any suggestions appreciated before I start spending with local garage
Cheers
Chris Bull
East Sussex

Bad earth ?
I know it seems the obvious thing to say, but it is a common issue, certainly on older Defenders.
[On a lighter note] Maybe it's just the Ford engine getting to the end of it's life ?

miktdish said:

Bad earth ?
I know it seems the obvious thing to say, but it is a common issue, certainly on older Defenders.
[On a lighter note] Maybe it's just the Ford engine getting to the end of it's life ?

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Cheers. I did wonder if it could be an earthing issue.
Although the vehicle is 15 years old and used on the farm it has less than 80,000 miles and has not had a particularly hard life so hopefully the Ford engine should have a bit of life left!

When you changed the fob battery did you do it from inside the car within the timescale and then resynchronise the fob? ie follow the handbook procedure?

Bully50 said:

Cheers. I did wonder if it could be an earthing issue.
Although the vehicle is 15 years old and used on the farm it has less than 80,000 miles and has not had a particularly hard life so hopefully the Ford engine should have a bit of life left!

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The Tdci in my Mondeo ran for 325,000 miles, and would have been repairable, but it would have cost too much for what the car was worth.
Admittedly, it had autobox, and a Mondeo is probably a nicer environment for an engine than a Defender.
But all the same, I would think you should get another 120,000 miles minimum out of that.

Wimblowdriver said:

When you changed the fob battery did you do it from inside the car within the timescale and then resynchronise the fob? ie follow the handbook procedure?

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I found with the Tdci it was always electronic issues, either with the car or the key. The engines themselves are pretty bulletproof if they are serviced according to instructions.

I was only joking that the engine was on its last legs, gasping for air and about to disolve ....

miktdish said:

I was only joking that the engine was on its last legs, gasping for air and about to disolve ....

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I know. But you shouldn't scare Defender owners, they are usually nervous types!

Bully50 said:

My 2007 Defender 90 Puma model owned from new has recently been difficult to start despite new battery and new glow plugs. Always needed plenty of cranking but never failed to start until today. Charged battery, new battery in key fob but although dash lights up with key absolutely nothing when key is turned
Any suggestions appreciated before I start spending with local garage
Cheers
Chris Bull
East Sussex

Click to expand...

Did it 'click' at all ?

Check the thin white wire to the starter, they come loose, break and chafe so they play up a bit ...

Wimblowdriver said:

When you changed the fob battery did you do it from inside the car within the timescale and then resynchronise the fob? ie follow the handbook procedure?

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Regarding the key fob the actual situation was as follows:-
Unlocked vehicle with fob as usual, turned on ignition and attempted to start vehicle as usual. It cranked over a few times, failed to start and then nothing when I turned the key for a third time.(no attempt from starter motor) absolutely nothing at all. Put battery on trickle charge for a few hours until showing fully charged. Decided to change fob battery as I had a new one in stock but did this indoors! Fob unlocks vehicle and ignition lights come on with key but dead as a dodo when I attempt to start the vehicle (no clicking, absolutely dead)

Dippypud said:

Did it 'click' at all ?

Check the thin white wire to the starter, they come loose, break and chafe so they play up a bit ...

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No clicking at all but will check the starter motor wire as you suggest. I did wonder if the starter motor itself was the issue as although low mileage it is used daily so maybe the starter motor is getting a bit knackered!

Bully50 said:

No clicking at all but will check the starter motor wire as you suggest. I did wonder if the starter motor itself was the issue as although low mileage it is used daily so maybe the starter motor is getting a bit knackered!

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They get very sensitive to a low battery, if it has only had short runs it maybe a new battery is needed, get it checked before that tho ...

Bully50 said:

Decided to change fob battery as I had a new one in stock but did this indoors!

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You will have lost the fob to transceiver coil signal (the coil sits around the ignition switch) and so the engine will be immobilised. This happens if you don't follow the fob battery change procedure. Have you got a handbook?

Dippypud said:

They get very sensitive to a low battery, if it has only had short runs it maybe a new battery is needed, get it checked before that tho ...

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My puma will start even when the battery is as low as 12V. Although at that low voltage it sets off the back up alarm during starting as all the juice goes into getting it started. As soon as the engine fires the alarm shuts up.

Some info attached on how the fob / coil signal works. I will see if I can find the fob battery info.

Pages from handbook (for 2012 model) attached.

Wimblowdriver said:

You will have lost the fob to transceiver coil signal (the coil sits around the ignition switch) and so the engine will be immobilised. This happens if you don't follow the fob battery change procedure. Have you got a handbook?

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Yes I have an handbook and will check as you suggest. However the fact that it died after cranking with original key fob before changing battery fob puzzles me?

Wimblowdriver said:

Pages from handbook (for 2012 model) attached.
View attachment 256201

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Nice book prop idea ....